The Mall was created as a ceremonial route in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, matching the creation of similar ceremonial routes in other cities, such as Berlin, Mexico City, Oslo, Paris, St. Petersburg, Vienna and Washington D.C. These routes were intended to be used for major national ceremonies in the era of the nation state. As part of the development (designed by Sir Aston Webb), a new façade was constructed for Buckingham Palace, and the Victoria Memorial was erected. Also, it is an urban myth that in the event of an emergency or catastrophic event that might endanger the monarch and senior members of the government, the Mall can quickly be converted into a make-shift runway.[